Pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser having a handle rod and a crank. A pair of handles is arranged on top of the handle rod. A sliding rod with pedals is connected to the crank by a pivoting mechanism while the other end of the sliding rod slides along a sliding base. Moreover, a driving mechanism is linked to a shaft connected with the crank. The pivoting mechanism includes a sleeve with bearings and a projecting collar disposed on the sleeve and having a mounting hole with inner diameter larger than outer diameter of the projecting collar. One end of the crank inserts through the bearings and the projecting collar is fitted into the sliding rod. A fixing bolt is inserted through the sliding rod and the projecting collar so that the projecting collar is movable with the sliding rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pivoting mechanism for a link rod ofan elliptical exerciser, especially to a kind of structure that cansimplify the structure, reduce the cost, is easy to maintain and stableto operate.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 6, the linking structure of a conventional ellipticalexerciser includes a main body 10 on which a handle rod 12 is pivotallymounted and a crank 14. A pair of handles 13 are disposed on top of thehandle rod 12 while one end of the crank 14 is connected to a slidingrod 15 with pedals 16 by a pivoting mechanism. The other end of thesliding rod 15 slides along the sliding base 17 positioned on the mainbody 10. A driving mechanism 11 arranged on the bas 10 links to a shaft110 with one end part connected with the crank 14. For improving thestability of sliding, Taiwan Patent No.: 362507, as shown in FIG. 7,discloses a configuration having a sleeve 30 arranged on one end of thesliding rod 15 and a sleeve pipe 31 fitted therein. Each of two ends ofthe sleeve 30 is a flared opening whose diameter is larger than that ofthe sleeve pipe 31 so as to form a clearance between the sleeve 30 andthe sleeve pipe 31.

Several bearings 32 are fitted inside the sleeve pipe 31 while one endof the crank 14 is movably received in the bearing 32 and fixed by ashim 33 and clasps. Due to the clearance between the sleeve 30 and thesleeve pipe 31, the sliding rod 15 has certain space to roll and thestability of the sliding rod 15 sliding on the sliding base 17 is alsoimproved. However, such design still has following disadvantages:

1. In addition to the bearing 32 and the sleeve 30, the sleeve pipe 31is disposed inside the sleeve 30 and the shim 33 positioned on two endsof the sleeve 30. In order to form the clearance with the sleeve pipe31, the two ends of the sleeve 30 have flared openings that aredifficult to manufacture and process. Moreover, such structure is easyto be damaged, thereby having high defect rate and stress concentration.

2. Due to a plurality of components, it difficult to assemble,labor-consuming and hard to maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide apivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser that hassimplified structure, low manufacturing cost, easy assembling, andconvenient maintenance. The present invention has a crank with one endthereof connected to a sliding rod by a pivoting mechanism. The pivotingmechanism is composed of a sleeve with a bearing arranged inside. Oneend of the crank is inserted through the bearing. A projecting collar ispositioned on one side of the sleeve while a mounting hole whose innerdiameter is larger than the outer diameter of the projecting collar isarranged on one end of the sliding rod. The projecting collar insertsthe mounting hole on the sliding rod. A pivotal rod is inserted throughthe sliding rod and the projecting collar so that the projecting collarcan rotate with the sliding rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following descriptions and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elliptical exerciser in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the featured structure of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the featured structure of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another featured structure of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the present inventionwherein the projecting collar slightly rotates about the pivotal rod;

FIG. 6 is a lateral schematic view of a prior art of an ellipticalexerciser; and

FIG. 7 is an explosive schematic view of a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pivoting mechanism for a link rod of anelliptical exerciser of the present invention is composed of a handlerod 12 and a crank 14 pivoted on a main body 10. A pair of handles 13disposed on top of the handle rod 12 while one end of the crank 14 isconnected to a sliding rod 15 with pedals 16 by a pivoting mechanism.The other end of the sliding rod 15 slides along the sliding base 17positioned on the main body 10. A driving mechanism 11 arranged on themain body 10, together with a shaft 110 having one end part connectedwith the crank 14, form a link system.

The pivoting mechanism includes a sleeve 20 with a bearing 21 disposedinside. One end of the crank 14 is inserted and positioned inside thebearing 21 while a projecting collar 200 projects outwardly from oneside of the sleeve 20. A mounting hole 150 whose inner diameter islarger than the outer diameter of the projecting collar 200 is disposedon one end of the sliding rod 15. Thus the projecting collar 200 isinserted into the mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15 with aclearance 151 between the projecting collar 200 and the inner wall ofthe sliding rod 15. A pivotal rod 22 is inserted through the sliding rod15 and the projecting collar 200 so as to allow the sleeve 20 and theprojecting collar 200 to rotate with the sliding rod 15.

Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Aplurality of elastic strips 23 are positioned on the inner wall of thesliding rod 15 for cushioning and avoiding the collision when theprojecting collar 200 is moved with the sliding rod 15.

Besides, the mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15 has an ellipticcross-section.

For a further embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section ofthe mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15 is orthogonal.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 5, the two sides of the projecting collar201 on the sleeve 20 can be designed to a curved surface 202 such thatthe projecting collar is slightly rotatable about the pivotal rod 22.Thus, the sleeve 20 and the projecting collar 201 can more smoothly movewith the sliding rod 15 with minimized friction.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, when operated, the sliding rod 15 moveselliptically by the crank 14. Due to the clearance 151 between theprojecting collar 200 of the sleeve 20 and the inner wall with themounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15, both of the projecting collar200 and the sliding rod 15 can slightly rotate about pivotal rod 22.Accordingly, less obstructive effect is created between the crank 14 andthe sliding rod 15 and the stability of the sliding rod 15 on thesliding base 17 is improved.

The present invention has the following advantages:

1. In addition to the improvement of the stability of the sliding rod onthe main body, it's not required to change the specification of thesleeve, the bearing and the crank of the present invention. It is onlyrequired to fit the projecting collar into the mounting hole of thesliding rod in a manner that a proper clearance therebetween isreserved. Moreover, the elliptic mounting hole of the sliding rod iseasy to manufacture and process so that the cost is minimized.

2. The number of the components is less than traditional structure. Thestructure is also more simplified and easy to maintain.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser havinga handle rod pivoted on a main body, a pair of handles disposed on topof the handle rod, a link rod positioned on bottom of the handle rod andmovably coupled to a sliding rod with pedals, a driving mechanismmounted on the main body and linked to a shaft with one end connectedwith a crank, the crank being connected to one end of the sliding rod bya pivoting mechanism while the other end of the sliding rod is movablein a guiding slot on a sliding base, the pivoting mechanism comprising:a) a sleeve mounted on the crank with bearings disposed within thesleeve; b) a projecting collar perpendicularly extended from one side ofthe sleeve, wherein the sliding rod has a mounting hole with a largerinner diameter than the outer diameter of the projecting collar suchthat a clearance is formed between the sliding rod and the projectingcollar when the projecting collar is fitted in the sliding rod; and c) apivotal rod for pivoting the sliding rod and the projecting collar suchthat the projecting collar is movable rotatable with the sliding rod. 2.The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastic strips are positionedon the inner wall of the mounting hole of the sliding rod.
 3. Thepivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser as claimedin claim 1, wherein the mounting hole of the sliding rod has an ellipticcross-section.
 4. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an ellipticalexerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole of thesliding rod has an orthogonal cross-section.
 5. The pivoting mechanismfor a link rod of an elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe two sides of the projecting collar have an arched cross-section, andwherein the projecting collar is slightly rotatable about the pivotalrod.
 6. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciseras claimed in claim 1, wherein the a projecting collar has a mountinghole with a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the slidingrod such that a clearance is formed between the sliding rod and theprojecting collar when the sliding rod is fitted in the projectingcollar.
 7. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an ellipticalexerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal rod is a bolt.